#222 : March 2011 by Diocese of Oxford

Win a pack of swift prizes - see pages 10 and 11

March 2011 No. 222

Reporting from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire www.oxford.anglican.org

Heritage grants for churches across the Diocese

‘Go and make disciples...’ By Jo Duckles

Pic: KT Bruce

THE University Church of St Mary the Virgin in Oxford is just one of the churches to benefit from the latest round of Heritage Lottery Grants. The church has been awarded £3.4 million for a five-year refurbishment and conservation project. The work will help repair the church’s façade, including the stonework, spire and tower, as well as vital repairs to the interior. The history of the church will be displayed and learning and volunteering programmes will be created with up to 200 local people being offered the chance to train as guides. The Old Library will also be restored, enhancing its facilities as a space for educational activities, and access greatly improved around this fascinating 1320 building. Grade I listed and sitting within Oxford’s Conservation Area, St Mary’s attracts over 300,000 visitors to the city every year. For a full list of churches given awards, see www.oxford.anglican.org.

DIOCESAN Missioners have been commissioned by the Bishop of Oxford to empower churches to “go and make disciples...” The 18 missioners are from across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire and are a mixture of lay and ordained men and women with a variety of expertise and experience. The idea is part of the Making Disciples strand of the diocese’s Living Faith vision, which reflects Jesus Christ’s call in the Great Commission. They spent a day together, before the official commissioning when they focussed on the sending out of the 70 disciples in Luke Chapter 10. Diocesan Director of Mission the Revd Michael Beasley, said: “It’s looking at things like working in pairs, travelling light, what it means to go to the right places and how to cope with rejection. “We then spent time thinking about where our shared experience of consultancy skills.” The missioners talked about training people in parishes to run evangelistic events. Michael said: “Then we spent time

thinking together about our work practise and about our accountability to each other and to the diocese. “The key thing is talking to people about mission, offering consultancies for deaneries and parishes and enabling training to enable projects.” Missioners’ specialist experience and expertise can be matched to a parish or deanery’s needs, whether they are considering church planting, ministry to men, nurture courses, Street Pastoring etc. Debbie Orriss, a Church Army evangelist based in High Wycombe says: “I got involved because I’m part of the Wycombe deanery’s mission resource group, which is already offering this sort of consultancy work, and I see this scheme as an extension of that. In the past I’ve led the CPAS Lost for Words course, which helps Christians share their faith confidently in a way that’s natural for them. “I’ve acted as an informal consultant for a church looking at mission in a previous role and as an evangelist who has trained evangelists, I hope I’ve got lots of experience I can draw on to help other churches.” FOR MORE ON DIOCESAN MISSIONERS TURN TO PAGE THREE

Inside: News Hopezone wins an award PAGE 3

Spotlight on Men and the Church Page 6

Feature

Chidlren’s spirituality PAGE 7

Arts The Tree of Light Olympic project PAGE 15

God in the Life of Lord Blair of Boughton

PAGE 16

theDoor MARCH 2011

Prayer & reflection

Hunger reflects on fasting as we enter the penitential season of Lent. Amanda Bloor

e have a strange relationship with food in the UK. International charities remind us that hunger and malnutrition form the greatest risk to health worldwide, with one in seven – that’s 925 million people – being undernourished as a result of factors such as poverty, natural disaster and conflict. When you’re hungry, you can’t work effectively, you’re vulnerable to illness and disease, you don’t think clearly, and you risk long-term damage to your health that can result in early death. Yet our greatest obsession seems to be with too much food; there’s constant reference in the media to obesity, to junk food, to celebrities who’ve put on weight, and to the distressing consequences of eating disorders. When did food stop being a pleasure and a gift, and become a battle-ground? As we enter the penitential season of Lent, the 40 days when we’re encouraged to prepare ourselves for Easter, many people will be considering fasting as a spiritual discipline. It can be good to remind ourselves that we don’t need to be driven by the desire for luxuries like chocolate; or to live a more simple life, focusing on the things that are really important; or to show

solidarity with those who have much less than us. But if this isn’t put alongside prayer and reflection, it risks becoming no more than a spiritually-sanctioned diet, done to make us feel better about ourselves. Fasting should be an aid to turning our attention to God, not an end in itself. The picture I’ve chosen is Fisherwomen salting herrings by David Carr. Painted in 1949, when Britain was still coping with the after-effects of six years of war, it shows two women preserving a catch of herring by cleaning and gutting them,

March prayer diary compiled by John Manley Pray to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit for: TUE 1 Blackbird Leys: clergy David Parry, Roger Burne, Pamela Baker. WED 2 Cowley: clergy Howard Thornton, Susannah Reide, Richard Chand. Oxford St Christopher (VC), Oxford St Francis (VC), Oxford St James (VC) School THU 3 Cowley St John: clergy Adam Romanis, Matt Rees, Benjamin Williams; LLMs Jon Bowden, Janet Proudman, Philip Clayton. Oxford SS Mary & John (VA) School. FRI 4 Headington Quarry: clergy Tim Stead, Alastair Wood, Rachel Weir, Peter Boulton-Lea; lay pastor Deirdre Twycross. SAT 5 Headington St Andrew: Everyone from the parish. Oxford St Andrew’s (VC) School. MON 7 Headington St Mary: clergy Jonathan Sewell; LLM John Chesworth. TUES 8 Highfield: clergy James Cocke; LLMs James Larminie, Eve Vause. WED 9 Iffley: clergy Andrew McKearney, Gill Hancock; LLM Sarah McKearney.

and packing them in barrels of salt. It’s a job that was traditionally carried out by women, and although it was cold, repetitive work, it demanded a high level of skill and attention. Although it’s a secular subject, there’s something about the subject matter and the composition that echoes religious art. We can see, through the open shed door, a small boat out on the water, and remember how important fishing and feasting was in the life of Jesus and his disciples. There are four fish, not five, on the table, but they remind me of the

miracle of the loaves and the fishes, and of Jesus cooking fish for his friends on the shores of Lake Galilee. The fish signify abundance too; fish stocks had recovered during the war years, and great shoals of herring were caught off the east coasts of England and Scotland. Generosity and plenty, gifts from God. The two women are dressed as simply as nuns, with aprons to protect their clothing, and their heads wrapped in scarves against the chill wind. One bows her head, as if in prayer, to focus on her task, whilst her companion is gazing out towards us with eyes that are looking beyond the confines of the packing shed. Her hands are busy, but her mind is elsewhere. It’s a timeless scene, with the cast iron bollard on the harbour wall the only modern intrusion, and yet it demands our attention. What is it that the women are thinking? What are their hopes, their fears? What is it that they are hungry for? Physical hunger is easy to recognise, but spiritual hunger can be just as real. Many people who do not acknowledge a religious faith will admit to still searching for meaning in life, hungry to find out if there is something more. For Christians, that meaning is found through the person of Jesus Christ, who leads us to God’s loving presence. The Lenten fast leads to the Easter feast; a feast to which we’re all invited. In God, all our hungers are satisfied. The Revd Amanda Bloor is Chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford. Above is Fisherwomen Salting Herrings, David Carr, 1949. Bridgeman Art Library.

(The following is for guidance only, please feel free to adapt to local conditions and, if you wish, produce your own deanery prayer diaries.)

Price, Anne Holmes, Alison Price; LLMs David Cranston, Ben Knighton. SAT 12 New Marston: clergy Elaine Bardwell; LLM Alison Salvesen. Oxford St Michael’s (VA) School. MON 14 Oxford St Clement: clergy Bruce Gillingham; LLMs Toby Garfitt, Theresa Gray. TUE 15 Sandford on Thames: clergy Robert Morgan; LLMs Liz Shatford, Brian Andrews. WED 16 E a s t D o w n l a n d ( B e e d o n , Boxford, Chieveley, Winterbourne, Oare, Farnborough, Peasmore, Stockcross, West Ilsley): clergy John Togood, Denise Brown, Kate Stacey, Graham Stacey. Beedon (VC) School. THU 17 West Downland: clergy John Townend, Mary Harwood. Brightwalton (VA), Chaddleworth (VC), Shefford (VC), Welford & Wickham (VC) Schools. FRI 18 Eastbury with East Garton: clergy Tony Cumberlidge. SAT 19 Greenham: clergy John Clarke, Brian Jones, John Bramhall.

THU 10 Littlemore: clergy Margreet Armitstead, Teresa Morgan, Helen-Ann Hartley. The JH Newman (VA) School, The Oxford Academy.

MON 21 Hermitage: clergy Rita Ball, Tony Lynn; Martin Cawte; LLMs Richard Betts, John Davies. Cold Ash (VC), Compton (VC), Yattendon (VA) Schools.

FRI 11 Marston & Elsfield: clergy Tony

TUE 22 Hungerford with Denford:

clergy Andrew Sawyer. WED 23 Kintbury with Avington: clergy Julie Ramsbottom, James Cook, Cathy Pynn, Matthew Cookson, Caroline Robinson, Margaret Yates. Kintbury St Mary’s (VC) School.

Sundays The angel said to her ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and wll be called the son of the Most High’ (Luke 1:30-32a, NRSV).

THU 24 Lambourn: clergy Tony Cumberlidge. Lambourn (VC) School. SUNDAY 6 Cowley Deanery: Area Dean Bruce Gillingham, FRI 25 Newbury (including Speen): clergy Paul Cowan, Mohan Uddin, Sarah Alexander, Murray Woolnough; LLMs Jane Sutton, Elizabeth Pook, Terry Winrow; youth minister Paul Reisbach. Newbury St John Evangelist (VA), Newbury St Nicolas (VA) Schools. SAT 26 Shaw cum Donnington: clergy Marion Drobig. Shaw cum Donnington (VC) School. MON 28 Thatcham: clergy Pete Jarvis, Brenda Harland. TUE 29 West Woodhay with Enborne, Hamstead Marshall, Inkpen & Combe: clergy Julie Ramsbottom, Charles Pakenham, James Cook, Cathy Pynn, Matthew Cookson, Caroline Robinson, Margaret Yates. Enborne (VA) School. WED 30 Ripon College Cuddesdon & The Oxford Ministry Course: principal Martyn Percy, the staff and students. THU 31 St Stephen’s House: principal Robin Ward, the staff and students.

lay chair Andy Gosler, secretary Rachel Edwards, treasurer Trevor Jones; ecumenical representatives: Roger Burne, David Parry. The people, PCCs, wardens and support staff of the deanery. The deanery mission ‘Living Faith’ in the spring; for all those planning and praying for the mission and for those who will be changed by it. The Anglican Church in Myanmar (Burma). SUNDAY 13 The MP and local government councillors serving the people of the deanery of Cowley. The diocese of Minna (Abuja, Nigeria). SUNDAY 20 Newbury Deanery: Area Dean Rita Ball, assistant Area Dean Denise Brown, lay chair John Hughesdon, secretary Susan Stevenson, treasurer Martin Cawte. Chaplain to the deaf Roger Williams. The people, PCCs, wardens and support staff of the deanery. The diocese of Mombasa (Kenya). SUNDAY 27The Diocesan Board for Social Responsibility, chair Martin Conway and staff. The MP and local government councillors serving the people of the deanery of Newbury. The dioceses of Mount Kenya Central, Mount Kenya South, and Mount Kenya West.

theDoor MARCH 2011

News IN BRIEF Women’s World Day of Prayer

‘Go and make disciples...’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

The Revd Richard Hancock, of St Andrew’s, Shrivenham, said “We have to have friendly and welcoming churches with open doors, but they are such an alien environment for so many people that we need to get alongside people where they are. That’s how Jesus interacted with people, getting alongside them. When Christianity spread through this country it was very much about engaging with communities.” “When I was training I spent a summer in Cornwall befriending new age groups. We have Avebury on our patch and I tend to go to the Summer Solistice with my dog collar. Some Christians are fearful of people who are into crystals and that sort of thing, but they are spiritually searching for meaning.” Richard began a men’s breakfast when he arrived in Shrivenham, in the local pub. He said: “I’m a big believer in pubs and they are closing faster than churches. It’s a natural place for people who might be on the fringes to meet. “We have recently started a Cafe Church with the Methodist

church, Cafe Inspire. It’s early days but we are now just starting to see a real up take in numbers.” Richard has also started a new pub group, Grown Ups with Children, which has attracted more than 60 people to a family event in a local pub. This led to a Father’s Day barbecue which in turn led to a Celebration of Blokiness. “Jesus is our father. We can look to him as an inspiration as to how a bloke can be. I’ve got a gas barbecue and just told everyone to bring something along to throw on it and we paid for a bouncy castle. I preached a sermon on the joys and woes of being a bloke and we still had people with us on Sunday night. Richard is the Area Dean for the Vale of White Horse, which has 27 parishes and five benefices. The deanery had a £6,000 pot of money from a former youth project, that has been made available for grants of up to £250 for evangelism projects. So far six grants have been made for a variety of projects, including Cafe Style churches. “One thing we are hoping from all of it is that we are doing

Hopezone in Crowthorne wins award THE HOPEZONE youth dropin centre in Crowthorne has been declared a runner-up in the South East Community Empowerment Awards. The centre, launched 14 months ago by Churches Together in Crowthorne, provides a place for secondary school pupils to hang out after school on Wednesdays. The vision came from the Baptist Church, but it is a joint venture with St John’s Church and the Methodists. The vision was borne out of Hope 08 and a vision for Crowthorne, to give young people something to keep them off the street. It has scooped £250 in the Community Council for Berkshire Empowerment Awards scheme.

Baptist minister, The Revd Martin Ceaser, said: “We have two X Boxes and a Wii and a table football game. “It’s part of the Sanctuary in our church. It’s interesting as they behave differently in the church and we’ve had requests for prayer from the youngsters, along with questions about ‘what is a Christian?’ and ‘who is Jesus?’. One lad came to faith and we’ve been able to offer pastoral support to families. “It’s about showing the love of Christ to children. We welcome anyone of secondary school age. “The majority are young teenagers and the idea is that by the time they get to 14 or 15 they will have had some positive influences in their lives.”

Prayer Day in Gerrards Cross GRATITUDE, Wonder, Sorrow and Desire are the themes of a prayer day taking place at St James’ Church Centre, Gerrards Cross in April. Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard, will be leading the day, and will be drawing from his forthcoming book, God, Lost and Found. Bishop John is the author of many books on prayer, including How to Pray. His latest book, Living Jesus was published in 2010.

The day will be aimed at those who have ever ‘lost’ God, probably most of us, and will look at ways of ‘finding’ God. It should be of particular help to those who are accompanying others in their spiritual life as well as those being accompanied. The day costs £15 per person. To book your place contact Jeni Hobbs on jeni.hobbs@ oxford.anglican.org or 01865 208288.

The missioners are pictured above. They are The Revds Michael Beasley, Janet Binns, Ian Biscoe, Paul Eddy, Damian Feeney, Alan Garratt, Richard Hancock, Beverley Hollins, David Picken, Janet Russell, David Tyler, Sally Welch and Toby Wright. Sister Debbie Orris and Mrs Wendy Bull are also pictured. Not in the photo are missioners Catherine Blundell, Chris Bull and Richard Zair. Below, coffee is served at Cafe Inspire in Shrivenham. Pic: Richard Hancock.

the ground work and building relationships and that will reap a harvest. It may take more than five years before we see the results.” Requests for assistance from the missioners can be made to Michael by emailing michael.beasley@oxford.anglican. org. For more on men’s ministry, see page 6.

CHURCHES across the Diocese are being encouraged to celebrate the Women’s World Day of Prayer. The service has been written by the women of Chile. Jean Hackett, president of the National Committee of the Women’s World Day of Prayer Movement, said: ‘This is always an exciting day as a great wave of prayer sweeps the world, beginning when the first service is held in Tonga and continuing around the world until the final service takes place, some 35 hours later, in neighbouring Western Samoa. “By then the day will have been celebrated in over 170 countries and over 5,000 services will have been held in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.’ Further information and resources, together with details of services in your area, can be found on the WWDP website at www.wwdp-natcomm.org.

Creation latest

Boxing Clever at annual Plough Day

The annual Plough Wednesday training day on rural and agricultural issues took place this year in January. 35 delegates from across the diocese visited the dairy unit at Field farm near Didcot in the morning. In the afternoon the group visited South Moreton and toured the Hall Farm craft units including the South Moreton White Collar Boxing Gym. Simon Hill the Churchwarden gave a demonstration of a boxing workout with the gym owner. Simon says: “Doing the “squad” circuit training with others means we all encourage one another to keep going, Many of the members come from the village and the surrounding area and several friendships have been made or deepened in this way. “There is also a huge cross section of people who come along from all sorts of backgrounds and ways of life. With better “abs” my back problem seems to have vanished, my singing (mostly with the Cathedral Singers at Christ Church) has improved through better breath control and I can stretch just a bit further for that high pheasant when out shooting.”

Creation Theatre Company has released details of its forthcoming Tales from the King James production to take place at New Road Baptist Church, Bonn Square, Oxford, from May 13 to June 11. In true Creation style this colourful and quirky condensed version of the famous book will provide a theatrical race through the ‘best bits of the Bible’ that is accessible for both a sophisticated Bible-literate audience and for children and those who know little of the Bible and its timeless stories. Tales from King James will be highly visual and energetic, thought provoking and often very funny – it will tell these well known stories in a completely new way using both modern and Jacobean language. Helen Tennison will direct a company of two actors - Tom Peters and Raewynn Lippert. Public booking for the show opens next month. For tickets contact the box office on 01865 766266.

Big Society Fund COMMUNITY groups in Oxfordshire are being invited to bid for grants from a pot of £600,000 for community projects. The one-off funding is to help communities get their ideas off the ground. Projects that will help groups take responsibility for providing services in their communities are eligible to apply. The overall vision for the fund is to create an environment where it is easier for communities to do things for themselves about issues that matter to them.

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theDoor MARCH 2011

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taking a stand,’ explains Tim. The sense of purpose comes out of Tim’s conviction that things are changing these days. Having spent his recent years helping lead Worship Central, traveling the world to resource and equip churches and their worship leaders, Tim has a great view on the current state and coming waves within the modern worship movement. ‘I feel like we’re on the cusp of a fresh move with worship,’ he explains. ‘In some ways it feels like we’ve got a bit stale, maybe we’re in danger of settling on a formula in congregational worship. There’s been a great challenge of late for pursuing excellence in production, visuals, lights and a bigger use of creativity, which I love. My only fear is that we miss the raw, messy, spirit-led type of worship that leads people to engage with God.’ All that distills into an album that is both relevant to the wider church and truly personal. It

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theDoor MARCH 2011

News The story of REinspired

IN BRIEF Join in Songs of Praise CHURCHES are being encouraged to be part of Songs of Praise from Oxford to be broadcast on Easter Day. Members of church choirs can join a special combined choir, which will lead the singing, while there will also be seats for members of congregations who are not singers but would enjoy taking part in the recording. The rehearsal will take place on Thursday, March 24 and the recording on Friday, April 1. Admission is by free ticket. To apply for tickets call 0161 244 3473 or email songsofpraise@bbc.co.uk.

New base for Bibleands The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard, visited Amersham on 26 January to dedicate the new offices of BibleLands, the inter-denominational development charity which supports Christian social ministry in the Middle East. The service of blessing and dedication was attended by local dignitaries, trustees, staff, volunteers and supporters. Jeremy Moodey, Chief Executive, said: “Our old site near High Wycombe, which was really a glorified warehouse, was no longer suitable. We had the opportunity to sell it for residential development and buy something much cheaper and more appropriate, allowing us to make a significant surplus which we can use to support even more projects in the Middle East.”

Children learn about religious icons above and right, Paul Haynes with his book. Pics: REinspired.

THE story of how a group of churches in Reading got together to develop a way of supporting RE in schools has been turned into a book. The Story of REinspired, (BRF) launched last month, covers how the project developed and explores the principles REinspired has worked to - including stories of how students have engaged with the materials, and how churches from a wide ecumenical base have been involved. It then provides a practical guide to enable others to use the model to develop links between their own church and local schools. The book aims to inspire and enable churches to become fully engaged in resourcing RE in schools. REinspired project director, and co-author, Paul Haynes said “This is a major milestone for the project. All of our volunteers should be encouraged that their hard work is now widely recognised as an example of excellence by church leaders and educationalists.” He added: “We have been working in local schools since 1997. Last year 80 volunteers drawn from 20 churches helped deliver 100 RE lessons to over 4000 pupils in 11 primary schools and one secondary school in Earley and East Reading.” Fellow author and chair of trustees Jane Earl added “It’s our hope that churches across the country will be inspired by our story and want to get more involved with their local schools. Thanks to the generous support of Jerusalem Trust and Baptist Union we are now be able to provide training, materials and mentoring to get them off to a flying start.” Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard, joined Canon Brian Shenton, at St Nicolas Church, Earley on Thurdsay,

17 February, to meet the book’s authors and children from a local primary shcool who were taking part in a typical REinspired activity. Authors David Skinner and Paul Haynes later signed copies and spoke about the book at Waterstones in Reading. “REinspired does exactly what it says on the tin. In our schools it has given encouragement to our teachers to explore issues of faith and culture by giving living examples of faith. The work is always scrupulously researched and inclusive. They have made a tremendous contribution to RE in Reading,” said Alfie Hay, former education adviser to Reading Borough Council. REinspired is a charity set up by Churches in Earley and East Reading with the aim of developing creative partnerships between churches and schools to support religious education and the spiritual development of pupils through positive encounters with people of faith in an educational framework.

David Winter publishes 40th book CANON David Winter has published his 40th book Facing the Darkness and Finding the Light. The book was launched at St Mary’s Church, Thatcham on Thursday, February 17. It is a contemporary take on

the book of Revelation and explores the themes of suffering, and healing, of judgement, and justice, of power and love as they relate to issues facing us in the modern world. It is available from BRF, ISBN 978 184101 835 5 and costs £6.99 .

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With women in the pews outnumbering men by 2.5 to one more needs to make church bloke friendly. Jo Duckles reports on a conference held in Grove.

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OMUNICATING the Gospel to men is an issue close to the heart of the Revd Paul Eddy. Which is why he organised the one-day conference at St John the Baptist Church, in Grove, where he is a curate. The room was packed with mainly men from across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Men and the Church (MATCH) is a new network, set up by Paul, which aims to provide resources for churches to help reach men with the gospel. He says: “It’s not a call for men to be in a church just for men. It’s not about putting gender at the centre of any church. It’s not undermining to or a challenge to women’s ministry or women’s priestly ministry in the church. “The aim is not to get men to come to church, it’s to share Jesus with men outside the church, to see them become disciples of Jesus Christ and when that happens they may well join the church.” MATCH aims to identify churches and individuals who are interested in reaching men who may have never been to church or heard the Gospel. The event highlighted how 95 per cent of Fresh Expressions projects are aimed at women, or women and children, and Paul called for the balance to be

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T was an emotional moment when the Revd Jenny Lingard baptised her husband Naj, just months after he became a Christian. Naj, who has run his own business training people in the Telecoms and IT world for 27 years, had spent his life believing in the existence of God but not making him part of his life. Then on 28th March 2010 he had a revelation. He suddenly realised that he wanted to follow Jesus. Naj grew up in Tanzania until he was 10, in a Muslim family, although his mother insisted he go to a convent school. Jenny who has been a Christian most of her life was a Curate in North Oxfordshire and is now Assistant Chaplain at Bullingdon Prison.

“The next morning I got up and everything was different.’ Naj says: “I work a lot in the global arena and do a lot of travelling, and meet many interesting people, especially in America. I work with a lot of Christians and that’s where many seeds were sown.” “I had recently read a fascinating book 90

Minutes to Heaven and on a recent trip to the US, I needed some light reading. I was on Amazon and my cursor was pointing at The Shack.” I knew Jenny had read it and liked it and she would say ‘buy it’ but I didn’t know what I was buying until I got on the plane!” He says: “The next morning I got up and everything was different. I was rather excited about the whole thing. I knew that Jesus was alive and real‘ and thought to myself it can’t be this simple.’” Jenny, who she felt she was a Christian from being a young child but committed when she was pregnant with their first child, was thrilled when Naj told her he believed in Christ and wanted to be baptised a Christian. And when he told his mother, a couple of months before she died, she told him he had her complete blessing, stating “If you have found God I’m delighted for you.” He later discovered, from his mother she had been baptised a Roman Catholic when she was nine. “I was astonished and had tried to understand why she hadn’t told me. The only person that didn’t know about it was me. It seems that my daughter and Jenny already knew about this. “I was really keen for Jenny to do the baptism and it was overwhelming.

For more on MATCH see www.men and the church.info/

One man’s story

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Above The Ven Rodham from Coventry chats to delegates. Right, Paul Eddy. Pics: Styles. redressed and challenged theCharlie Church of England to think about its mission strategy which he revolves around belonging and then believing. He said: “The current Mission strategy of the CofE revolves around belonging, then believing. This is great for women who like small talk but for most men to make the decision to follow Christ requires an intellectual/masculine hurdle to jump before they feel prepared to reach a new community.” “I suggest that because they commit their lives to Jesus Christ, men’s behaviour will change as a result of what they believe, and then they will belong to a faith community, as long as it equips them to become a disciple of Jesus.” MATCH will be launched nationally at General Synod in July. It aims to provide various resources for different church contexts, recognising that different ideas work for different communities. Ideas listed on the website include

“We had a packed church full of family, friends, work colleagues, all sorts of people. Naj has now attended churches in places as far afield as Atlanta and Singapore, as well as his local churches. Jenny and the family are delighted that Naj has become a Christian and that their prayers over the years have been answered so wonderfully Jenny has noticed a definite change in Naj. He has become more aware of what is going on in the world particularly the plight of others and wants to help. He is more open to ideas and best of all they now pray together and talk about God.

theDoor MARCH 2011

Family

The power of play of imagination they enable courage and empathy and offer alternative or subversive endings. Feed in rituals which mark important occasions and can nurture through times of transition, the importance of relationships that offer safety, guidance and fun. Not forgetting enabling the silence and space to process it all, wonder about the world, God and life and discover a place in it. Just having a space to be where the ‘beyond words’ stuff is.

Yvonne Morris reflects on the Nurturing Children’s Spirituality Day she recently led.

n a Tuesday morning at the end of January, 30 people from a variety of children, youth, schools and church settings gathered at Diocesan Church House to spend the day thinking about play, children and spirituality on a course entitled ‘Nurturing Children’s Spirituality’. It was a very full day yet with rich content, discussion and sharing experiences that left many participants provoked to reflect further on their

‘...a child’s spirituality is outside of the control of any adult...’ work and relationships with children. The work of Dr Rebecca Nye on children’s spirituality offers much food for thought when we take the time to reflect on what it means in practice.

‘Just having a space to be where the ‘beyond words’ stuff is.’ I:stock

She emphasizes the erratic, fragile, playful nature of child and that a child’s spirituality is outside of the control of any adult, frequently beyond words and more about process than product. The underlying nature of ‘play’ demonstrates similar qualities. Play absorbs the creative and is often more about process than product. Play always has purpose for the child and can

enable them to explore existential issues. Asking questions can serve the same purpose, leading a person to contemplate the meaning of life and help them understand themselves and world around them. Stories have a similar spiritual importance – the search for identity, understanding your own history and continuity and through the engagement

But if our Sunday Schools and church groups are always about ‘teaching’ and ‘doing’, are the children getting a balanced diet of spiritual nurture? To find out more Yvonne recommends Children’s Spirituality: What it is and Why it Matters by Rebbeca Nye and Formational Children’s Spirituality by Ivy Beckwith. A limited number of copies of both books are available at a discount price from yvonne.morris@oxford.anglican.org.

School joins in record attempt

Join in National Family Week

NATIONAL Family Week aims to celebrate family life in the UK and connect millions of families with the organisations, charities, good causes and services that support them. Parishes and schools in the Diocese can use the week to show how they support familes, offer activities and services for families, or engage in other ways in the promotion of family life. Your Family Week activities can double up as a fundraising exercise for a school or parish project, be used to publicise your work, or to simply have fun. For the last two years, families have enjoyed thousands of events, competitions, special offers and much more as part of the UK’s biggest celebration of family life. This year the event takes place from Monday 30 May – Sunday 5 June and aims to be bigger and better, engaging with thousands of families nationwide. For display packs and voucher books for schools please send an email to frankie@nationalfamilyweek.co.uk. In the email, please provide the following details: contact names, school names, delivery addresses and contact telephone numbers .For more information or information on how to register please call 020 7871 0189 or see www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk.

he Bishop of Oxford and pupils from All Saints CofE Primary School in Didcot, recorded the first all-age Bible reading for a worldwide project aimed at capturing the whole of the King James Bible on YouTube. The Rt Revd John Pritchard who started as chair of the Church of England’s Board of Education and National Society Council joined pupils from All Saints to read alternate verses of Psalm 67. The reading marked a double celebration as the National Society was founded 200 years ago to provide education for all through Church schools and the King James Bible was first published 400 years ago. Bishop John was visiting the school to officially open and bless the £370,000 remodelled and refurbished part of the school for three to five year olds. “The King James Bible was published 400 years ago and our Church schools were started by the National Society 200 years ago. Both are examples of this country's Christian heritage, and it's very important in the 21st century to maintain that link with our cultural roots. The Bible has inspired some of the world's greatest drama, literature and music, and to Christians it's also the inspired word of God. As a Church school, All Saints Didcot is both inclusive and distinctive, and the opening of its remodelled building demonstrates its important role in the community. It was a pleasure and privilege to read this passage together with children from the school, and posting it on YouTube is a great way of marking these celebrations.”

ONLINE

The recording can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=btHPR m4znwA

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t Cross Rhythms we haven’t, in fact we’re doubling our efforts to reach a younger generation. But we need you, the parents and grandparents, to push with us to reach and rescue our children’s generation.

We all know the scripture in Malachi that the Spirit of Elijah will ‘turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse’. It is vital for our nation’s future that there is a greater turning of the hearts of the old to the young and the young to the old, and it is incumbent upon the older generation to take that lead. Cross Rhythms is a ministry that since 1983 has been reaching today’s younger generation and the people of our cities through media. And let’s face it, if you want to reach young people, where will you find them? Only a small proportion can be found hanging around our churches, but the vast majority are immersed in today’s media – building their lives, fixing their values and shaping their identities through online communities, website imagery, music idols, movie icons, mobile interaction, video footage, radio personalities…Yep, if you want to find today’s youth, you will find them in today’s media culture - just where Cross Rhythms has taken it’s stand! Originally born out of a prophetic word given to Cross Rhythms Founder Chris Cole to ‘reach millions for Christ through media’, after 27 tried and tested years Cross Rhythms has grown from just a half hour radio show to three full time FM radio stations in UK cities. Youth programmes are syndicated to more than 50 stations worldwide and our youth engaging website is one of the busiest in the UK, tackling issues such as

By Jon Bellamy, CEO of Cross Rhythms pornography, self harm, addictions, eating disorders and offering teaching, testimonies and prayer.The site is reaching more than 800,000 unique users a year, 70% of whom are under 35. In addition, our model of FM community radio has proved a great success with Ofcom and local communities: engaging with everyday issues and serving local communities at all levels, practically, emotionally and spiritually. Its success has enabled four such stations to gain FM licences, and our goal is to see 10 such stations across the nation. We are truly fulfilling our positioning statement to, ‘Impact Youth and the Wider Community For Good Through FM Radio, Contemporary Christian Music and a Globally Influential Website’.

We have just launched Cross Rhythms radio so it can be heard on mobiles and smartphones; we re-launched our Twitter and Facebook interaction to great effect; and we are developing brand new youth programming with Chip K and Shell Perris - role models to a younger generation. We are also setting up a media training academy to raise up the next generation of Christian media voices and we are in discussion with several groups for possible stations in their cities, including one for Bethlehem!

How you can help... I would like to give a one off gift of £________________ I enclose a cheque/postal order (made payable to ‘Cross Rhythms’) To achieve our vision will require experience, perseverance and boldness. All these we have. To achieve our vision will also require expansion, growth, increased manpower and added resource.

Issue number_______ Expiry date Please send me information on becoming a regular supporter of Cross Rhythms Please add me to the Cross Rhythms mailing list Name:_________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________

As you read just some of the testimonies from the last 8 years of FM broadcasting, imagine this being repeated and multiplied time after time all across the UK in the coming years.With your support it can. Cross Rhythms is much more than a team of 9 employees, 4 trustees and 30 volunteers. It is a team of hundreds of partners all giving where they are called to give and standing together to see the same vision come forth in our nation today.

E-mail:_________________________________________ Please cut out this form and post it to:

or go to www.crossrhythms.co.uk/donations

N, 2009 “Hi Chris, I have some exciting news. Me and Ben have been speaking to a girl who’s gotten pregnant and the guy doesn’t want to know her anymore (she isn’t a Christian).Well today she said she heard the Policeman story on Cross Rhythms last night and she gave her life to God!!!! Sooo excited.” V - Stoke-on-Trent, 2009

Jonathan Bellamy Cross Rhythms CEO

Helen - 2009

Thank you for your consideration.

Alternatively you can call 01782 251000 to make a donation

“I can speak from experience of both listening to and from the perspective of Staffordshire Police contributing to regular features on Cross Rhythms.The radio station undoubtedly promotes unity and highlights the valuable work that is being done within communities.”

Yours sincerely

Today we are looking for many more parents and grandparents to join us to reach our children’s generation through media.We are asking you, would you join our growing army of partners, who are just as vital a member of the Cross Rhythms team as myself and Heather,Tony & Maxine, Angela, Chris, Richard, Rob, Peter?

Cross Rhythms, PO Box 1110, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 1XR.

Mike Wolfe - Elected Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, 2004

“This time last year, I was only a couple of months on from the overdose I had taken.The night before my 24th birthday, the night we spoke on the phone, I was in such a dark place still, that I was seriously contemplating trying again and doing a better job. I didn’t feel I had any rope to hold on to and it was all pretty bleak. I want you to know that the very fact that someone was on the end of a phone, that night, and willing to talk with me, and pray, and not make me feel like an outcast or a freak was a lifesaving piece of rope. It gave me the rope I needed to hold on to, to make it through that night.Without doing something that would have been unwise. It was you displaying the kindness and love that made me see Jesus.”

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“I am neither a Christian nor a member of any other religion…I approach religion with a high degree of cynicism. In the case of Cross Rhythms I am entirely happy to say that such cynicism is entirely unfounded. I believe your radio station has played an important role in entertaining local people and also in countering the needlessly negative messages of other local media.You have injected positive criticality into many civic debates and have held myself and other local politicians to account in a way that has enabled us to explain ourselves rather than sought merely to trick us into sound bites.”

“Hi Shell! I downloaded your podcast on self harm after my friend sent it to me thinking it might help me. I have self harmed for 9 months. I have good times and bad times. I have been trying to tell someone. I listened to your podcast nightly for the last few nights. Although I’m not a Christian, it really helped me. I booked with the nurse to see the counsellor again and told her. It feels so much better.Thank you so much you have helped me heaps.”

through Cross Rhythms

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“I have been checking xrhythms whilst driving around Stoke. Now don’t get all enthusiastic here, but I think the quality of the shows/tunes is pretty good – as for the message I have to say I’m a floating voter – however I am also the owner of a local live music venue and would be willing to put together a show to help raise funds for the station.You must be doing something cool as it’s the first time I’ve taken any notice – good luck with the station.”

John Wood - Chief Superintendent, 2004

I want to reach the youth of our nation

as a one off gift

Testimonies... Buff, 2002

Building on all this, from January 2011 we started a brand new five year licence awarded to continue reaching the people of Stoke-on-Trent on FM radio until at least December 2015! It is amazing when we look back to see how far God has brought us, what he has established through us, and to be encouraged to go further still!

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Feature

Rediscovering holiness You are to gather up the joys and sorrows, the struggles, the beauty, love, dreams and hopes of every hour that they may be consecrated at the altar of daily life. Sr Macrina Wiederkehr OSB, from A Tree Full of Angels: Seeing the Holy in the Ordinary (HarperCollins, 1988)

n the Old Testament, the concept of holiness is understood primarily as something that describes the majestic, glorious, invisible God (see Exodus 15:11; Psalm 29:2), but his holiness may also be extended to places, objects and divinely elected people (Exodus 3:5; 22:31; 29:37). It is significant that all the biblical places, encounters and objects that were described as holy and sacred were marked out for their manifestations of the divine presence. Where God dwelt, holiness dwelt; and, by implication, where God was not, holiness was not. God’s relationship towards his chosen people, described as a holy nation (Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 7:6), was also marked out by his everlasting covenant with them and his demand for their worship of him alone (Exodus 20:1–3). At this point, then, holiness is identified as separation from other nations and as relationship with the Divine. In the Old Testament, the greatest

emphasis on holiness was found first in its relation to ceremonial and ritual activities. With the emergence of the later prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and the rise of Wisdom literature (such as is found in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes), the term ‘holiness’ became more abstract, but was still waiting to be born in the coming Messiah. Jesus both models holiness and is the door to holiness—and we are invited in. In the New Testament, we find Jesus

‘..through Christ, holiness is no longer something that separates God from humanity.’ depicted by the Gospel writers as taking the idea of holiness one stage further, by saying that holiness is no longer to be found only in buildings, places, objects, rituals and prescribed Law, but in the individual person, in one’s heart. The Gospel writers used the word ‘heart’ in this context to represent the whole person, rather as we do today. The heart was the seat of the emotions and

appetites, and included intellectual and moral faculties. Thus the experience of the way holiness is defined and practised shifts from being centred predominantly outside the body to being placed firmly within it. Jesus frequently castigated the religious leaders of his time precisely because they had lost this intrinsic meaning of holiness in the ways they interpreted the Law. They had developed and perpetuated an elaborate system of rules regarding holiness that was designed exclusively to separate them from the rest of the people. Indeed, the very word ‘Pharisee’ meant separation—a person who was set apart for a life of purity. Yet, through Christ, holiness is no longer something that separates God from humanity; no longer do holy things or places divide the Creator from his creation. All can come to Christ now that he has died and risen. Today, holy experiences are difficult to define easily, and plenty of scholars have wrestled with this conundrum. How do we know when we are in the presence of God? What words and images come into our minds and hearts? Do we just know instinctively? Is it sometimes better not to try to describe holiness but just to live it, to experience it from within? Most

Lent courses and resources • Lent, traditionally a period of fasting

and prayer in preparation for Easter, is an ideal opportunity to put aside time for regular meetings for joint study. You can get five or six in between Ash Wednesday and Easter. It’s not easy to forget if it becomes a regular annual event. But, needless to say, you don’t have to wait until Lent. You can do a study course any time you like, as many times as you like in the year. www.yorkcourses.co.uk have an information sheet on their website that you can download – as well as an organiser’s checklist – with plenty of tips on how to get started. • Damaris’ Lent course consists of five sessions. Each session includes material from the book Get More Like Jesus While Watching TV, with discussion questions and suggested television clips for groups to watch and talk about together. The leader’s guide, consisting of a pdf with handouts and Powerpoint files, can be downloaded for free from tomorrow at www.damaris.org/lent The book Get More Like Jesus While Watching TV argues that television is not merely chewing gum for the eyes - it is a vital tool for us in sharing our faith with friends, family and neighbours. Applying Romans 12 to our watching habits, the book makes the case for using television both to help us grow in personal holiness and in becoming more effective in sharing our faith. If you want to check out Get More Like Jesus While Watching TV you can read the foreword at www.damaris.org/lent.

• This Lent Christian Aid is using social media and blogging clergy to encourage people to use the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter to pray, act and give. Count Your Blessings will be launched on Twitter March 9. They will be using the popular social media site for the 45 days of Lent to share daily reflections and actions. The Archdeacon of Buckingham, The Ven. Karen Gorham will be blogging about Count Your Blessings. Follow her progress at www.archdeaconkaren.blogspot.com You can also follow the Count Your Blessings journey on Twitter by going to www.twitter.com/christian_aid where daily actions will be posted every morning, and add to the conversation by using the hashtag #cyblessings. The Count Your Blessings calendar, available to download at www.christianaid.org.uk/lent, encourages people to take a fresh look at the good things in their life and respond through giving, reflection, action or prayer. • USPG (Anglicans in World Mission) has produced a Lent study guide, drawing on passages from Acts and looking at the church in action in India, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Japan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Myanmar and Ghana. USPG speakers are available to speak at Lent services or study sessions. Email enquiries@uspg.org.uk or call 0845 273 1701 for more information. The picture above shows the growing church in Gambella, western Ethiopia...

USPG/Leah Gordon

There are around 60 licenced Anglican church leaders supporting isolated rural congregations. The Anglican mission agency USPG is supporting the Anglican Church in Ethiopia • The Diocese of Oxford has produced Reading the Bible, a Simple Guide a booklet outlining different ways of approaching the Bible. Why not use that to guide you through scripture during Lent? Email debbie.dallimore@ oxford.anglican.org or call 01865 208225 to order your copies.

believers would agree that holiness and holy experiences differ from other purely human or material experiences by more than just their sensory elements. These experiences are not merely a deepening or magnifying of already familiar emotions but are felt independently and in their own right. Nothing in the material world can be holy by itself; places, people and objects are holy only in relation to their connection with God. It is God who consecrates them and draws us towards him through our experience of them. Lent is a perfect opportunity to rediscover this holiness by accompanying Christ on his way to death and final victory. This is an edited extract from The Promise of Easter, by Fleur Dorrell, reproduced with the permission of BRF. The book is available now, priced £4.99, ISBN 9781841017884.

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Feature

Caring for G A swift way to make a difference The Revd Canon Glyn Evans, Diocesan Rural Officer reports on an easy way churches can stop the decline of swifts.

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have teamed up with ornithologist Chris Mason for this scheme to help swifts. These birds spend about four months here during the summer. After fledging, young swifts migrate to southern Africa where they remain for the next two years constantly on the wing. They feed entirely on insects which they catch in flight, and they rest and sleep on the wing as well. Only in their third summer do they return to Britain, and then they may find a mate. They will only breed if they find a nesting site. The same pair will breed for three or four years, but can live for a long time after that. The birds themselves are fully protected by law. So are their nests while they are being used. Nevertheless over the last ten years their numbers have declined significantly and they are now on the amber list of Birds of Conservation Concern. We believe that churches can help to stop that decline. The Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher is a keen bird watcher who loves swifts too. “There are few more wonderful summer sights than watching swifts on the wing,” he said. “Swifts return every year to the same building, even to the same nesting place within that building, but sadly in recent years many nest sites have been lost through building ‘development’.” Swifts use a wide range of buildings stone manor houses, Victorian town houses and post-war houses built by local authorities but the effect of major repairs or demolition is the same in each case – swifts lose their nest site. Even quite modest repairs to the eaves can have the same result. What’s sad is that it is relatively simple to carry out repair work and still leave the swifts’ nesting place

undisturbed or to provide a replacement.” Recently Bishop Colin visited Kirtlington church where Chris Mason showed him the swift nest boxes that have been installed. Chris has been working on a project to conserve swift nest sites in the Cherwell District for the last three summers. He says “Because swifts return year after year to the same nesting place, the most important thing is to try to find out where they are nesting and look after those sites. I have found that people love having these birds around in the summer and want to help in any way they can.” The Cherwell Swift Conservation Project is encouraging churches to include nesting spaces in carefully selected spaces. The project in the Cherwell District aims to make sure nest sites in churches are not disturbed when repairs are carried out, and the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) is being asked to help with this. It also hopes to encourage churches to install nesting boxes in church towers. Last summer nest boxes were installed in Bodicote church tower. Reg Tipping a swift enthusiast started recording swifts in 2008 for the Cherwell Swift Conservation Project. He knew there were plenty of swifts nesting in the village near the church, and was inspired by an article by the Rector, the Revd Ben Phillips, in the parish magazine in September 2009. The Parochial Church Council obtained a Faculty from the DAC and funding from the Oxfordshire Nature Conservation Forum. Fellow enthusiast Bill Cupit constructed a set of six nest boxes and together they fitted them inside the bell tower in June 2010. Merton PCC has also recently approved a plan to install nest boxes in their church. PCC member Stephanie Appleton said “There are now only two pairs of swifts remaining in Merton and they are both at the St Swithun’s Church. So we are delighted that we might be able to add to their numbers by putting nest boxes in the tower.” Glyn Evans and Chris Mason are

Bishop Colin examines a swift box.

working with the Oxfordshire Nature Conservation Forum, which is offering financial help for churches wanting to install nest boxes. Cynth Napper, the ONCF community officer said: “People are often concerned that birds will leave a lot of mess. But swifts do not leave a pile of droppings below their nests. Swift boxes are designed exclusively for swifts. Bats cannot get into them, and the swifts can only get into the boxes, not into the church.” As for concerns that a swift might get trapped inside the church, this can be dealt with by a notice on the church door asking visitors to make sure the door is kept closed. For more information contact Glyn on glynpe@tiscali.co.uk or 07581 491713.

Enter swiftly to win prizes Cornerstone Vision publishes this Diocesan newspaper. We also serve the needs of businesses all over the UK with excellent design

The Door is offering the following prizes to the first three correct entries to be drawn from the hat. 1. CD of swft calls which help attract swifts to nesting sites 2.The Museum Swifts; the story of the swifts in the tower of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History by Andrew Lack and Roy Overall 3. Broughton Ferry Environmental Project booklet on swifts To stand a chance of winning simply answer the following three questions: 1. What is the Latin name for the Common Swift?

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2. In which public building in the city of Oxford have swifts nested regularly since the 1940s? 3. Who wrote the book Swifts in a Tower? To stand a chance of winning send your entries to Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey Lane, Oxford, OX2 0NB. The closing date for entries is Friday, March 11th.

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A NEW version of a practical guide to becoming greener has been published especially for the churches in the Diocese of Oxford. For Creed and Creation was originally published in London to help churches make a difference to the environment. Its authors were the Revd Gillian Straine, who has a physics degree and a PhD in atmospheric physics, and Nathan Oxley, who was doing Public Relations work for the Government. Gillian, who is now a curate in Kidlington, has re-visited the publication to make it more relevant to churches in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. She says: “It’s a simple and straight forward guide book about how to make your church more green.

“People can pick it up and do quick, easy and cheap things first. It’s written in a way that makes it easy for churches to get on with it. They can either do the little things or go straight for bigger projects like installing solar panels on their roofs. “Wherever the church is there is something in the book they can do. It’s light hearted – it’s not meant to be a serious book, but something people can use. “It’s an important issue for the Church because it’s an important issue for the world. The climate is changing and we have a responsibility to do something. The Church shouldn’t be preaching about making a difference unless it’s working towards getting its own house in order. We can also save

some money by making ourselves more efficient.” In the introduction to the book, the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard, says: “My touchstone is my grandchildren. They may still be alive in the year 2100; what kind of a world will we leave them? “The activities here in this book are real, practical opportunities to ‘make a difference in the world,’ as our Living Faith vision invites us to do.” The book is available from environment@oxford.anglican.org

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Last minute fundraising push saves carbon neutral plan

last minute fundraising push saw the congregation at St George’s, Wash Common, Newbury, raise £40,000 to save a scheme to install solar panels. AS the Door went to press St George’s, Wash Common in Newbury, Berkshire, was set to celebrate completion of the first stage of becoming England’s first carbon neutral church. The church was switched on its newly installed photovoltaic (PV) panels as part of a scheme to reduce its carbon footprint from 15 tonnes per year to zero. The fundraising campaign was launched in November 2009 with support from local resident and congregation member, former Archbishop of

Canterbury Lord Carey of Clifton. It was feared the plan would have to be shelved because of cash issues, but fundraising efforts have meant the first £250,000 has been provided and phase one, the PV panels, can go ahead. St George’s was awarded a number of grants including £38,000 by the Low Carbon Buildings Fund however restrictions on this grant meant it had to be spent by the end of February 2011, thus exerting significant time pressures on the entire project. Vicar of St George’s, Paul Cowan, said: “This project has represented a roller-coaster ride over recent months and at the end of January it looked as though the project would be cancelled due to a funding shortfall against bids to do the work. On Sunday

January 30 I gave an update to our congregation and told them we were back to the drawing board. “The response was phenomenal and in the following 12 hours more than £40,000 was donated. We were then able to secure a discount with the contractors and suddenly we were back on track. These events seem truly miraculous as I am now able to admire the PV panels on the roof. St George’s is still some way from being fully carbon neutral but this is a positive step in the right direction as we endeavour to play our small part in the stewardship of this beautiful world and as we make St George’s a warmer and more welcoming space for the Wash Common community.

Wing your way to a solar seminar IN December the Door reported how Wing Church in Buckinghamshire became one of a handful of pioneering churches to install solar panels on its roof. Last month Bishop of Buckingham the Rt Revd Alan Wilson said a prayer of blessing and Archdeacon of Buckingham, The Ven. Karen Gorham, led intercessions at a special service to give thanks for the project. The panels will generate electricity from the sun, which will be used by the church and also exported into the National Grid. Not only will their electricity bill halve, but they are expecting to earn £3,500 per year from the Feed-In-Tariffs, a government

scheme to encourage us all to use ‘green’ technologies in our homes and workplaces. For more information on feed in tariffs contact the Revd Dr Lesley Fellows, renewable energies advisor, Diocese of Oxford on lesley.fellows@hotmail.com. So the church is hosting a seminar on renewable energy options and church buildings. The day will look at how churches can generate electricity, cut energy bills and, through the feed-intariffs, make a good return on its investment. The event takes place on March 5th and runs from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Including presentations and information from experts, plus an

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Have you thought of making a retreat? Most of us will have heard about retreats, we may have been on a retreat ourselves or know someone who has. For those who have not the simple question is 'What is a retreat?' According to the Retreat Association, A retreat is a planned time of spiritual refreshment, with the opportunity to rest, unwind and pray. It offers the chance to reflect in an unhurried way on your life, your relationships, and your experience of God; to ponder the meaning of what has happened to you, and to prepare for the future. Retreats usually involve a good deal of silence, because many people have discovered through the centuries that it is in quiet that they can best reach into themselves and find the deep centre, the inner stillness where they are at peace with themselves and with the world around them. Each person has her or his own image of this inner stillness: for example, some may see it as a well from which they can draw fresh water, others as the truest part of their own being, others again as their experience of God within them. But retreats need not necessarily be entirely silent: they may include daily conversation with others in a group, some kind of shared activity, or a meeting with a retreat guide.

comfortable accommodation. They are mainly in the countryside, but others are based in towns and offer an oasis of calm in the centre of a busy environment. Many people make a retreat each year: some enjoy the adventure of going somewhere different each time, while others return time and again to a house that has become comfortably familiar to them and a spiritual home.

What would I do? There are many different kinds of retreat, with more or less structure in the way they are organised. A traditional preached retreat is in silence, with daily talks from a leader and the rest of the time kept for prayer and reflection.

Where would I go? Most retreats are residential: you go and stay somewhere quiet and apart from your usual daily life, typically in a retreat house. Retreat houses provide a peaceful atmosphere and are often based in wonderful old buildings with gardens to explore and reflect in. Most offer delicious home cooking and very

On an individually-guided retreat you will meet daily with someone who will listen to you non-judgementally and may suggest passages to read, perhaps from the scriptures, or ways to reflect that might be helpful.You will be free to follow these suggestions or set them aside. You might still find it possible to find a place on a Lent Retreat if you call your chosen retreat

house shortly. By their nature you are likely to find a limit on places available at retreat centres. If you would simply like to spend time by yourself, you may make a private retreat. Retreat houses will offer this opportunity wherever possible, and may be able to provide a retreat guide as well.As a beginner and especially if you are unused to extended periods of silence, it is usually better to try something with support and a focus - and some retreat houses offer beginners' retreats.

How can I find out more? The Retreat Association can provide further information or guidance about retreats. You can call the Retreats Association on 01494 433004 Email them on info@retreats.org.uk Visit the website: www.retreats.org.uk

Offering contemporary facilities for the 21st century Church. Combining a reflective, quiet atmosphere and traditional Christian hospitality, with excellent standards of accommodation. Up to 100 guests a day. With refurbished chapel, new oratory plus meditation garden alongside of a choice of meeting rooms, Saint Columba’s House is your first choice. For comprehensive retreat programme see website. Saint Columba’s House, Maybury Hill, Woking, Surrey GU22 8AB. Tel: 01483 766498 Email: retreats@stcolumbashouse.org.uk

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Apart from specifically prayer and study based retreats, some providers offer all sorts of themed activity retreats as well. . This may range from creative hobbies such as painting or poetry, to acquiring skills such as photography or Power-Point, to finding support in coping with modern day issues such as a time of change or a relationship breakup. Many retreats involve a group of people, and even if you make a private retreat others may be staying at the retreat house at the same time.

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CHRISTIAN RETREAT HOUSE

Epiphany House Retreats 2011 Holy Week Residential Retreat: Saturday 16th – Monday 25th April “In the Steps of the Cornish Saints” (Pilgrimage retreat): Saturday 11th – Saturday 18th June The Full Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (Silent residential retreat): Monday 8th – Friday 19th August “The Art of Seeing: God, self and the mysterious universe” (Silent residential retreat): Sunday 21st –Friday 26th August.

Set in the peaceful Oxfordshire countryside, Stanton House truly is a space for God. The house and its grounds is the perfect venue for individuals and groups to hold a retreat, enabling them to seek God, study, relax or simply regroup by taking time out from a busy life.

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“Dreams, Imagination and Soul-making” (Silent residential retreat): Wednesday 31st August – Thursday 8th September. “Holy Spring: Seeking God’s refreshing” (Pilgrimage retreat): Saturday 10th – Friday 16th September Individually Guided Retreat (Silent residential retreat): Saturday 1st – Saturday 8th October

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theDoor MARCH 2011

The Doorpost Courses, training, conferences & workshops in March 2011. The Doorpost is a free service for churches to advertise their events and is designed to be hung on church noticeboards. Please send your events to doorpost@oxford.anglican.org or by post to Church House. The deadline for the next issue is Friday 4 March 2011. TUESDAY 1 MARCH OXFORD: Oxfordshire Stronger Communities Alliance are holding a half day event ‘Youth and family services: the way forward in Oxfordshire’. 9.30am - 1pm at Seacourt Tower, Botley, Oxford. Details from 01865 251946. SATURDAY 5 MARCH MILTON KEYNES: A quiet day at The Well, Willen ‘Sacred Gaia. Details 01908 242190 or bookings@thewellatwillen.org.uk MONDAY 7 MARCH OXFORD: CAP Money are running a short course to learn how to budget and organise your finances beginning today from 7.30pm 9.30pm at The Mish, 57f St Clements Street. Details 01865 246674. To book go to www.capmoney.org or email parish.office@stclements.org.uk

2pm). ‘Church on Trial’ - Jessica Rose. All welcome. SUNDAY 13 MARCH DORCHESTER ON THAMES: A series of lectures for Lent will take place every Sunday throughout Lent at Dorchester Abbey from 6.30pm - 8.30pm. Details www.dorchester-abbey.org.uk or phone 01865 340007. MONDAY 14 MARCH ABINGDON: ‘Perspectives on Jesus through Lent’ - a Lent course being held every Monday through Lent at 8pm at All Saints Methodist Church, Appleford Drive. IVY HOUSE, WARMINSTER: Residential Lent Retreat from 14 18 March ‘He chose the nails’ led by Pat Marsh. Cost £220 (full board). Details 01985 214824 Email: stdenys@ivyhouse.org TUESDAY 15 MARCH

OXFORD: Book launch of ‘Word and Spirit - the vital partnership in Christian Leadership’ by The Revd Will Donaldson at Wycliffe Hall at 5.30pm. Details www.brfonline.org.uk

OXFORD: Queen’s College Chapel are running a Lent course every Tuesday throughout Lent from 6.15pm. Details 01865 246809. WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH

WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH MILTON KEYNES: A quiet day at The Well, Willen at the beginning of Lent. ‘Reflections on Ash Wednesday’. Details 01908 242190 or bookings@thewellatwillen.org.uk THURSDAY 10 MARCH NEWBURY: Organ recital by Stephen Holmes at St Nicolas Church at 1.10pm. Details 01635 32837. FRIDAY 11 MARCH OXFORD: Unicorn group open meeting at 1 Canterbury Road, North Oxford. Coffee/tea at 12.30pm. Bring own lunch. (1pm -

TILEHURST: Reading Concert singers will perform at St Mary Magdalen at 7.30pm. Details 0118 942 5290. OXFORD: Council of Christians and Jews Annual book evening patrons panel at Oxford Jewish Centre, Richmond Road at 7.30pm. Details ceo@ccj.org.uk

SACRED SPACES IN PUBLIC PLACES: Two day conference from

SATURDAY 19 MARCH ASTON TIRROLD: The Centre for Reflection are holding a Lent Quiet Day with reflections based on Stanley Spencer’s series of eight paintings ‘Christ in the Wilderness’. 10am - 4pm. Cost £20. Details 01235 850423. MONDAY 21 MARCH OXFORD: Christian Aid’s ‘Theology, Poverty, Gender and Justice’ - at New Road Baptist Church, Bonn Square from 9am 1pm. Details 01865 246818. WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH WHITLEY: Reading Concert singers concert, St Agnes at 7.30pm. Details 0118 942 5290. FRIDAY 25 MARCH FINGEST: Hambleden Valley, near Henley. Healing service with laying on of hands and anointing at Holy Communion at 10.15am. Details 01491 571231. SATURDAY 26 MARCH HOLMER GREEN: Amersham Deanery Vocations drop-in day from 10am - 3pm at Christ Church HP15 6XQ. Details 01494 670389 or 01494 772914. THURSDAY 31 MARCH

THURSDAY 17 MARCH OXFORD: The Retired Clergy Association meeting at Christ Church Cathedral. Holy Communion at 9.45am (President) - The Bishop of Buckingham; 10.15am coffee; 10.30am Talk by The Bishop of Buckingham.

Courses & special events INTRODUCTION TO LAY MINISTRY: Saturday 19 March at Diocesan Church House from 10am - 4pm (bring a packed lunch). This course is for LLMs in training and other interested learners who want to look at the theology of ministry, lay and ordained, and issues of support and supervision. This course will be of particular help to those needing to complete a ‘2B’ or ‘P’ competency. Cost £18. Details and booking form from sheila.townsend@ oxford.anglican.org

CHARLBURY: St Mary’s Church at 8pm. ‘The Bible in Voice and Verse’ - a special concert of words and music celebrating the 400th anniversary of King James Bible. Details 01608 810286.

WOKINGHAM: ‘Holy Listening’. on the ministry of Spiritual Direction at The Cornerstone, All Saints (1.30pm - 3.30pm or 7.45pm 9.45pm). Details 0118 9785690.

Services at Christ Church Cathedral

22 to 23 March for everyone engaged in mission (including youth work, schools work, community arts and fresh expressions of church). To be held at CMS House, Watlington Road, Oxford. Booking essential phone 01865 787455 or go to www.sacredspaces.eventbrite.com

Sundays: 8am Holy Communion; 10am Matins (coffee in Priory Room); 11.15am Sung Eucharist; 6pm Evensong.

TRANSFORM: An opportunity for Christians involved in education in Oxfordshire to get together to be equipped, motivated and inspired to make a difference in their schools. Saturday 5 March from 10am - 4pm at St Gregory’s School, Oxford. Book in advance. Details email transformbooking@mail.com

After Eight: Time to reflect, time to pray. Contemporary liturgies for mind and spirit on Sundays at 8pm.

Weekdays: 7.15am Morning prayer; 7.35am Holy Communion; 1pm (Wednesday only) Holy Communion; 6pm Evensong (Thursday Sung Eucharist 6pm).

Tel: 01865 276155 www.chch.ox.ac.uk

To advertise in The Door call 01752 225623

Advertise your vacancies in The Door The Door is one of six Anglican newspapers published by Cornerstone Vision. With 35,500 copies printed monthly, excluding August, The Door offers a wonderful opportunity to reach the Anglican Diocese of Oxford with details of your goods and services. For employment vacancies within the church itself or locally based charities it must be one of your first choices. Taking in major cities and towns including Oxford, Abingdon, Reading, Maidenhead, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes, The Door is circulated through Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire eleven times a year. Our regular advertising features offer an excellent opportunity to reach our readers with a discounted rate (when compared to the Media Pack rate). For organisations who serve a broader area than the Door offers other titles in our group might also be of benefit. They include: The Sarum Link; The Month; The Wey; Rochester Link and Pompey Chimes. To learn more call our sales team on 01752 225623

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theDoor MARCH 2011

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theDoor MARCH 2011

Arts Voices from the darkness

VOICES from the Darkness is a poignant selection of stories told by 21st Century women about how they have overcome a range of mental, physical and emotional illnesses. The stories have developed over the last 18 months through the Eve Women’s Wellbeing Project, which supports women to overcome lifealtering events. Eve was borne out of Love, Hope and Chocolate, a Women’s Faith Day held in 2008. Co-ordinator, Anji Hall said: “Eve was inspired by a vision God put on my heart. At the event we had a lot of testimonies from women and afterwards there were a lot of enquiries. I really felt the Lord putting it on my heart that we needed to do something more

substantial to address these needs.” So Anji gathered some women together from her church – Heyford Park Chapel in the Cherwell Valley Benefice, and it grew from there. She said: “The Eve project is born from faith but to enable access to all women does not come under a faith banner. However we have Soul Food once a week which is a lunchtime meeting when we eat together and follow study courses to help women’s faith journeys.” Voices from the Dark will be performed at the Mill Theatre, Banbury on Wednesday, July 13th Tickets cost £9 and £6 concessions. For more information email eve@btinternet.com or call 01869 232461.

Watch out for the Tree of Light

TREE of Light will be part of a series of arts events along the River Thames through Oxford, Reading, Henley, Windsor and Slough as part of the cultural celebrations of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. More than 1,000 people in the Thames region will be involved in the five events. The centrepiece of the project will be a giant sculpted Tree of Light lit by low energy LED light and powered by sustainable energy largely generated by cyclists and rowers from each local community. The scheme, by Thames Arts, will be funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to create a cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The creative team for the project includes the high tech theatrical design duo Block 9 who have become regulars at Glastonbury Festival and composer, Orlando Gough, one of the UK’s most highly rated composers for contemporary dance theatre. Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher is a board member of Oxford Inspires, which is part of the Thames Arts consortium. He said: “I am greatly looking forward to seeing this project developing in the coming months, and I’m delighted that the Revd Janet Binns, our Olympic co-ordinator, is

in touch with its organisers. “Trees feature strongly in the biblical story. From the tree of life (as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) in Genesis to the leaves of the trees for the healing of the nations in Revelation, the imagery is all there, to say nothing of the healing for all humanity that comes through the death of the One who hangs on a tree. “More locally some of the oldest trees in the Thames Valley are the yew trees in our churchyards, along with the rather smaller ones that were planted at the Millennium - and no doubt we can find plenty of other reasons to celebrate as well. This is a great chance to celebrate with our communities; let’s seize it.”

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theDoor MARCH 2011

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That is what this book is about – one chapter for each topic, and two further chapters to put these five in their context – in the hope that thereby some leaders

Five situations are frequently experienced in Christian service: (a) identifying where you are in the overall picture, (b) knowing your priorities and how to implement them, (c) resolving your church’s or agency’s vision and the strategy to make it happen,

may become stronger and more effective in their service. Each of these topics is looked at from the perspective of a key question from the Scriptures: Adam, where are you? Moses, what is that in your hand? Elijah, what are you doing here? Amos, what do you see? Ezekiel, can these dry bones live?

(d) understanding enough about yourself as a leader to know what you should and can do, and what to avoid, and (e) having the faith to believe that things can change and with it the confidence to start making the invisible visible.

“Always in a context of encouragement... someone who understands the realities of church life… It is, quite simply, the fruit of a lifetime of reflection on God, faith, church and culture.” From the Foreword by Professor John Drane

I would like to buy a copy at the special discount price of £6, plus £1 towards postage and packing (the RRP of the book is £8.99). Please make a cheque for £7 out to ‘Peter Brierley.’ Name: _____________________________________________________________________________ Church / Organisation:_______________________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________Postcode: ___________________ Telephone number in case of any query: _______________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________________Date: _______________ Return to: Brierley Consultancy, The Old Post Office, 1 Thorpe Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent, TN10 4PW or emai:l peter@brierleyres.com or phone: 01732 369 303

by Dr Peter Brierley Published by ADBC Publishers September 2010

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theDoor MARCH 2011

Letters & comment Comment

LETTERS Don’t hide our light

by Jane Manley

It is good news that the Diocese wants to encourage solar panels on church roofs, but not only if they are invisible from the ground. The dynamic equivalent translation of Matthew 5 vs15 tells us not to hide our light behind a balustrade. If the international deal agreed at Cancun in December is to be delivered, then the Church needs to let its light be shown, taking a lead in the response to the challenge of climate change. Conservation of life on earth transcends the need to conserve the townscape.

Your church wedding

his year, for the first time, the Diocese represented ‘yourchurchwedding’ at the UK Wedding show held at Ascot Racecourse. Having a stand at the Wedding show gave us an invaluable opportunity to chat to couples, to answer their queries and concerns. Many couples today believe that for various reasons they do not have the ‘right’ to get married in church – ‘I am not baptised’, ‘we do not go to church’, ‘I am divorced,’ etc. One of the joys I have experienced since being ordained has been conducting wedding and wedding blessing services. I have found it a great privilege to listen to the story of two individuals falling in love, wanting to spend the rest of their lives together, and to enable them to bring God into that union.

‘I love meeting the couples and helping them plan their day. Many couples want to add that spiritual dimension to their marriage, to feel that God’s love is underpinning their relationship. I love meeting the couples and helping them to plan their day, to hear their story and build that into the service, to make it a really special occasion. Weddings are a joyful time but they can also be a time of great tension as different family units are brought together and within the planning we try to find ways to minimise those differences to ensure that the day is focused on the couple and the vows that they are making to one another. For many people a wedding is one of the few occasions when they come to church and we try and make it an accessible and welcoming experience. At a recent wedding we had our band playing ‘Hey Jude’ in honour of the couple’s young son and it was good to see how the congregation entered into the spirit and joy of the occasion. ‘Marriage is good for you’ Bishop John said recently and that is the message we conveyed at the Wedding show. The Revd Jane Manley is a member of the Bracknell Team Ministry.

The Revd Jane Manley, Debbie Dallimore and the Revd Stephen Johnson at the Wedding Show.

Thought for the month by David Winter “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” Matthew 4 vs 7

f there’s one piece of music I try my best to exclude from funeral services it’s ‘My Way’. Yes, it’s a great song, and Frank Sinatra performs it powerfully, but its message is borderline pernicious. It is a kind of hymn to Self. Blow everyone else. Ignore opposition, sensitivity to others, alternative possibilities. I did it my way. And that was, it seems to me, exactly the temptation that was put before Jesus in the wilderness, an incident which we read in the Gospel this year on the first Sunday of Lent. ‘Led by the Spirit’ - the very same Spirit who had come upon him at his baptism immediately previously - Jesus was drawn to the wilderness of Judea to be put to the test. Divinely endorsed as the Messiah and as the ‘beloved Son’, his calling was to be subjected to a series of moral and spiritual examinations. Each refers to an aspect of his ministry, and each, in its own way, also challenges us about the way we live and witness as his disciples today. His way, or my way? ‘Turn these stones into bread’ - what a sensible suggestion. ‘If you are the Son of God’, the temptation goes, ‘it should be simple, and your hunger will be assuaged at no cost to anyone‘. Why not? Very soon he will be taking a few rolls of bread and a couple of tiny fish and feeding 5,000 people with them. Why not use the same power now to provide sustenance in the desert? The temptation failed, and Jesus passed the test. He was not there in the wilderness to feed his stomach with

Editor: Jo Duckles Tel: 01865 208227 Email: jo.duckles@oxford.anglican.org Editorial Assistant/Distribution: Debbie Dallimore Tel: 01865 208225 Email: debbie.dallimore@oxford.anglican.org Advertising: Roy Perring Tel: 01752 225623 Email: roy@cornerstonevision.com Deadline for April 2011: Friday 4 March 2011. Published Monday 21 March 2011. The Door is published by Oxford Diocesan Publications Ltd (Secretary Mrs Rosemary Pearce). The registered office is Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey Lane, Oxford, OX2 ONB. Tel: 01865 208200. While every care is taken to ensure the reliability of our advertisements, their inclusion in The Door does not guarantee it or mean that they are endorsed by the Diocese of Oxford.

bread, but to listen to the word of God. It was all about priorities (as so much of our Christian discipleship is). God had not given his Son miraculous powers for them to be used for his own benefit. The second test was more spectacular - to do something so sensational that everyone would immediately recognise that he was the Messiah. Jump from a pinnacle of the Temple and assume that God would send angels to catch him in mid-air. The crowds would see and believe. Doubters would be convinced, sceptics confounded. What could be wrong with that? Again the temptation was rejected. To ‘put God to the test’ is intrinsically wrong. This short-cut to faith for the crowd would involve doing God’s work in the world’s way. There was no Calvary bypass available to the Son of God, as the Garden of Gethsemane demonstrates. There is never any alternative to seeking to do God’s work God’s way. For the third temptation Satan, it seems, over-reached himself, claiming that he could give Jesus power over the kingdoms of the world. It is true, of course, that one day that would be his destiny (Revelation 11:15), but through the defeat of evil, not surrender to it. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, is the one who will ‘reign for ever and ever’. Church history bears eloquent testimony to the fact that when the Christian Church seeks to embrace secular power and glory it ceases to be the true Body of Christ. We are called, as our Saviour was, to oppose oppression and worldly might, not collude with it. ‘Worship the Lord your God’, Jesus said, ‘and serve only him’. Quite a thought for Lent 2011. Canon David Winter is a former Diocesan Adviser on Evangelism, former BBC head of religious affairs, a broadcaster and author.

Audio version

Comings and Goings -

Sight impaired people can now get a free audio version of The Door by contacting Graham Winterbourne on 01884 840285

The Revd Jill Novell has taken up post as house for duty associate clergy at Prestwood and Great Hampden; The Revd Rosemary Rycraft has left her post as Team Vicar in Aylesbury with Bierton and Hulcott; The Revd Clive Rogers has left his post as Assistant Curate at Beaconsfield; The Revd John Hudson has retired from his post as

Canon Christopher Hall, Deddington.

Lottery - no chance David Croton stole my thunder when his letter was published in the Door in February. For some years we have been struggling to erect a small church/community hall on ground 25 yards or so away from our beautiful fourteenth century perpendicular gothic church. We’ve already raised just over £100,000 through sheer hard work and local donations. English Heritage, who have a particular interest in the church having previously made grants towards its maintenance, have proved equally interested in the hall project to such an extent that, in order to gain the planning permission which has now been granted, we have had to shrink the size, move the position and adopt a futuristic design. Oh yes, I nearly forgot to mention - this has caused the original price to just about double. We were thrilled to learn, through the Door, of the latest offerings from the National Lottery. It appeared we met all the criteria for acceptance. Then we commenced our application on-line but when we typed in our postcode, a message appeared telling us that there were no funds available for our area. So, regardless of our views on the morals of the National Lottery, it seems that we are going to have to follow the example of Beaconsfield (the Door, January) and throw a few masked balls. Our own recent Burns’ Night Supper Dance raised £2,000. Just another 75 such dances and we’ll be there - unless we can find someone somewhere to step in and help! Any ideas? Georgie Christoper, Maids Moreton.

Competition Winners The following were winners of the competition that appeared in February’s Door - George Pulford from Kidlington; Rosemary Campbell from Aldermaston and Mrs Watts from Tilehurst. They have all won a copy of ‘Celebrating the King James Version’ by Rachel Boulding.

Priest in Charge at St Matthew’s, Reading; The Revd Tony Hogg will be retiring from his post as Vicar of Hanney, Denchworth and East Challow. The Revd Julian Harford has been given permission to officiate. We recall with sadness the deaths of Canon Arthur Allchin and The Rt Revd Peter Walker.

theDoor MARCH 2011

God in the life of... Jo Duckles talks to Lord Blair of Boughton about what he’s been up to since leaving the Met.

police officer, because that was the profession I was paid for, but that I hoped Christian values had underpinned my work.” He says the highlights of his career were writing a book about the impact of rape on victims which changed the approach of police to the crime and involvement in a drive that saw minority recruitment at the Met going up from five per cent to 20 per cent. He was also heavily involved in the re-introduction of neighbourhood policing, in the form of Safer Neighbourhood Teams, to London.

Life after

HE hour-and-a-half Ian Blair spends in church every Sunday morning has provided a welcome respite through some of the toughest times of his career. Ian, 57, was quick to praise the supportive community he has found at his church, where he even managed to worship on the Sunday after the 7/7 bombings. “I’d not slept much for days, and was sat in church. As the parish priest processed in to start the service, he saw me, stopped for a moment and put his hand on my shoulder before walking on,” says Ian, who initially went to church as a youngster because his family saw it as the ‘thing to do.’ I interviewed Ian in his spacious office at home. Pictures adorn the walls and the letters patent of his crossbench peerage take pride of place. Over a coffee, he tells me how he had little interest in religion until his early 40s, when he gradually began to question what he really thought about faith. “I did an Alpha course and that didn’t persuade me, so I decided to read the gospels from one end to the other,” he says. “But it was the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles that convinced me.” In the 2010 Theos Annual Lecture, that hit the headlines late last year, Ian explained why those particular books resonated with him. He had always known that to find belief it would have to have intellectual underpinning and while he wanted miracles like the virgin birth or Jesus turning water into wine to be real, he clearly had no proof. He says that what changed his mind was that something had clearly happened in the Upper Room and elsewhere that changed the world: “A

“I’d been in post f ive months when the bombs went off ”

The Met small group of frightened men and women, in immediately threatening circumstances, suddenly had the confidence to tell everyone with whom they came into contact the normally absurd story of Jesus rising from the dead. “And then over the next 30 years or so, they preached this absurdity, converted enough people to begin the foundation of what we now know as Christianity, many of whom are named in the Acts and the Epistles. And they did so alone or in pairs, learning as they did of the deaths, usually by execution of almost all of their compatriots, but continued to preach until at least 11 of the Apostles were dead.” Ian clearly sees the relationship between policing and Christianity. He joined the Met as a constable in 1974, and began walking the beat in the bohemian Soho patch of central

London. He’d read English Literature at Christ Church College, Oxford, and describes his first beat as an interesting end to a liberal education. He says: “A surprising number of police officers go on to become priests.

“I hoped Christian values had underpinned my work.” There are also a perhaps less surprising number who go on to run pubs. We see human beings in all manner of situations. We see them not only at their worst but also at their best. All human work that involves sitting down with others and listening to their troubles has some similarity. At the Theos lecture I was asked if I was a Christian first or a police officer first, and I said I was a

As the Met’s top cop, Ian went through some unenviable times. He says: “It was a tough position from the beginning. I’d been in post five months when the bombs went off. That hour-and-a-half in church on a Sunday morning was important, firstly to take some space and secondly having wonderful, supportive people around me.” Since leaving the police in 2008, Ian has been very busy. “Bishop John asked me on to Bishops’ Council and Diocesan Synod and I’m chairman of the Thames Valley Partnership, a criminal justice charity,” he says. This brought him into contact with the Circle movement, an originally Quaker based group of volunteers who befriend sex offenders and provide support to prevent them re-offending. As well as being a working peer in the House of Lords, his portfolio includes writing and lecturing. He is a trustee of the Woolfe Institute for Interfaith Relations and of St Paul’s Cathedral, as well as of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. He is an Honorary Student of Christ Church. Lord Blair lives in Oxfordshire and worships in Oxford. He is married to Felicity, a former solicitor and mediator, and has two grown-up children.

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